Hearts On Fire!

Didn’t we feel on fire as he conversed with us on the road, as he opened up the Scriptures for us? (Luke 24:32 The Message)

A couple of weeks after Resurrection Sunday, those early disciples are still reveling in the reality that Jesus did what He said He was going to do – come back to life after three days!

According to scripture, shortly after the resurrection, two of Jesus’ followers took a walk along the road that connected Jerusalem to the town of Emmaus.

I’m wondering as I read the passage found in Luke 24:13-32 - were they really heading toward the destination of Emmaus, or were these two bewildered disciples simply needing to get away from what had just happened in Jerusalem so they could process together?

Consider that thought as you slowly and prayerfully read this account from the Message Paraphrase.

That same day two of them were walking to the village Emmaus, about seven miles out of Jerusalem. They were deep in conversation, going over all these things that had happened. In the middle of their talk and questions, Jesus came up and walked along with them. But they were not able to recognize who he was.

He asked, “What’s this you’re discussing so intently as you walk along?”

They just stood there, long-faced, like they had lost their best friend. Then one of them, his name was Cleopas, said, “Are you the only one in Jerusalem who hasn’t heard what’s happened during the last few days?”

He said, “What has happened?”

They said, “The things that happened to Jesus the Nazarene. He was a man of God, a prophet, dynamic in work and word, blessed by both God and all the people. Then our high priests and leaders betrayed him, got him sentenced to death, and crucified him. And we had our hopes up that he was the One, the One about to deliver Israel. And it is now the third day since it happened. But now some of our women have completely confused us. Early this morning they were at the tomb and couldn’t find his body. They came back with the story that they had seen a vision of angels who said he was alive. Some of our friends went off to the tomb to check and found it empty just as the women said, but they didn’t see Jesus.”

STOP AND CONSIDER

Have you ever been so overloaded with information that you had difficulty discerning what was true?

 Have you felt flustered because you seemed to be hanging somewhere between believing and not-believing?

Have you longed to simply get away from it all – and talk it out with someone who would understand you, accept your confusion, and simply LISTEN to your story?

Then, he said to them, “So thick-headed! So slow-hearted! Why can’t you simply believe all that the prophets said? Don’t you see that these things had to happen, that the Messiah had to suffer and only then enter into his glory? Then he started at the beginning, with the Books of Moses, and went on through all the Prophets, pointing out everything in the scriptures that referred to him.

They came to the edge of the village where they were headed. He acted as if he were going on but they pressed him: “Stay and have supper with us. It’s nearly evening, the day is done.” So he went in with them. And here is what happened: He sat down at the table with them. Taking the bread, he blessed and broke and gave it to them. At that moment, open-eyed, wide-eyed, they recognized him. And then he disappeared.

Back and forth they talked. “Didn’t we feel on fire as he conversed with us on the road, as he opened up the Scriptures for us?”

Further Consider

Do you see how Jesus (compassionately, I believe) challenged them to look at their own “laziness of faith”, their choice to doubt and not believe what they knew to be true?

Have YOU ever been lazy in your faith, doubting God’s Word and His Care and Ability to do the things He has told you He would do?

Do you see from this passage, the holy protocol of Jesus? He acted as if he were going on.

Jesus will never force Himself on us when we don’t care to know more.

However, when we ASK, He will stay and keep feeding us with Himself.

They ate together, and Jesus blessed them as they shared food and conversation. He then opened their eyes to see who He really was!

These two men were so excited, they didn’t even stay the night – according to scripture.

They didn’t waste a minute. They were up and on their way back to Jerusalem. They found the Eleven and their friends gathered together, talking away: It’s really happened! The Master has been raised up!

 Pray It Out

Father, I want to be on fire for You. I want to experience You in my heart and bones. Help me to push through those times when I don’t seem to understand WHAT You are doing. Help me to full-out TRUST YOU WHEN I CAN’T FEEL YOU. Lead me to a Christian brother or sister - one with whom I can talk out my feelings, my doubts, and my worries and fears. Jesus, help me hear Your Voice and recognize Your Presence. And then, my Lord, may I not waste a minute in telling the Good News to others! Amen.